Boot tree



April 19, 1933. DE WQQLF BOOT TREE Filed Spt. 4, 19:57

Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 13 Claims.

The present invention relates to boot trees and particularly to that class of boot trees used with leather riding boots in order to maintain the desired shape and good appearance thereof when the boot is not in actual use.

With readymade riding boots, due principally to the limited market, it is usually not feasible to provide a different size of boot tree for each different boot leg and foot size for which the boot is to be made because of the lack of complete uniformity in the proportions of the sizes of various boots. Accordingly, the present invention provides a boot tree which is capable of being disassembled and when reassembled for use readily adaptable to different leg sizes and proportions for different boots. At the same time a boot tree is provided by this invention which, for a given foot size, will adapt itself to boots of different leg sizes.

A further provision of the present invention is to provide a boot tree particularly adapted for riding boots of different leg sizes and still capable of being used with riding boots of different foot sizes so long as the foot is larger or longer than that of the boot tree.

Trees for riding boots, as now known, usually comprise a front or shin portion and a rear or calf portion with a keyed wedge or intermediate portion which is forced between the front or shin portion and the rear or calf portion to cause the sections of the boot tree to expand and thus maintain proper shaping of boots of different leg sizes. With boots of the type known in the art a foot portion is usually fitted by means of a key and keyway (or tongue and groove portions) to the lower portion of the front or shin section of the boot tree and forced into the foot of the boot in assembling the complete boot tree. In some instances this foot portion of the boot tree is pivotally supported from the lower end from the front or shin section so that it can be made as a part of the front or shin section. Unless the size of the leg portion bears some particular and predetermined relationship to the size of the foot portion it naturally follows that the action of the key or intermediate portion to separate the front or shin portion from the rear or calf portion of the boot tree will not be entirely satisfactory and the boot tree will not be readily adapted to use with boots of either different foot sizes or of different leg sizes.

The present invention, therefore, makes provision for an intermediate section suitable for use with the front and rear portions, as well as the foot section of a boot tree, of the general character above described but the invention is so ar ranged and constituted that the intermediate section is arranged to cooperate resiliently with the shin and calf sections of the boot tree in order that the assembled boot tree as a whole will accommodate itself to various leg sizes in a riding boot and fit closely the leg portion thereof. Further, the invention is so constituted that the front and rear sections of the boot tree may be simplified in construction where desired and throughthe 10 use of the intermediate section to be herein described the keys and keyways may be completely eliminated.

One of the objects of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a boot tree which readily adapts itself to use with all leg sizes in riding boots and which will, when in use, cause the shin and calf sections of the boot tree to expand to fill completely the leg portion of the boot and thus maintain the desired shaping of the shin and calf portions of the boot and at the same time preserve the boot.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an expansible and easily disassembled boot tree which may be used with boots of differcut leg sizes for the purpose of maintaining the boot shape at all times.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a boot tree by which, through the inclusion of a suitable intermediate section, the same boot 30 tree may be used to maintain the shaping of boots of a given foot size irrespective of whether the calf size is less or greater than is normally to be expected.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a boot tree wherein the front and calf portions of the tree may be inserted into the boot and then later be spread or forced apart under the force exerted thereupon by suitable resilient means to cause the shin and calf portions to fit and accurately maintain the exact shape and size of the boot. This action is obtainable by the positioning of a wedge or intermediate member which has provided upon at least one face thereof a resilient and expansible means operating to force the shin and calf portions of the tree against the corresponding inner surfaces of the boot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a boot tree which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which is still efficient in use and at the same time easy to install in and to remove from a boot.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an intermediate wedge-like portion for a boot tree which may be manufactured and sold as an auxiliary unit independently of a complete boot tree. Thus, the invention provides a spreading or shaping member which is readily adapted for use with known and existing types of boot trees and thus may be used with known types of boot trees and readily adapt such existing types of boot trees to use with varying sizes of boots merely by substituting the new and novel type of key or intermediate portion in order to resiliently separate the shin and calf portions of the boot tree.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a boot tree spreading member which will be easy to use and provide a simplified means whereby the front and rear sections of a boot tree may be forced apart and caused to conform to the shaping of a boot.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and at once suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates by reading the following specification and claims in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a partially expanded elevation of the several portions of a complete boot tree formed in accordance with this invention and wherein the intermediate section is provided with keys to fit the keyways of boot tree front and rear sections of the prior art;

Figure 2 represents a perspective view of the intermediate wedge section of Fig. 1 for expanding the shin and calf portions of the boot tree;

Figure 3 represents a section through the foot portion of the assembled boot tree of Fig. 1, the section being taken on line 3-3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 represents a central section through the assembled boot tree of Fig. 1 taken on the line i- 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 5 represents a modification of the intermediate or wedge member of Fig. 2 and shows the invention adapted to use with boot trees lacking the key and keyway portions on the shin and calf sections.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawing for a further understanding of the general nature of the present invention and its applicability to use with riding boots or the like, as well as the manner in which the complete boot tree is assembled within the riding boot for the purpose of maintaining the shape, for example, of the boot, the foot portion l is first positioned within the foot of the riding boot (not shown). The foot member I of the boot tree is shaped so as to conform closely to the shape of the boot foot. This foot member I has provided upon its rear face 3 a keyway 5 into which the front or shin portion '5 of the tree is adapted to fit. The lower end 53 of the front or shin portion l is provided with a key H which is shaped complementary to the keyway 5 and fits into the keyway 5 of the foot section. The lower edge iii of the front or shin portion rests upon the upper edge E5 of the foot portion I and the two sections are so shaped that when assembled a smooth and even contour of surface is provided.

When the foot and shin sections have thus been assembled and positioned within the boot (not shown.) the rear or calf portion l! is then inserted into the boot so that the heel section 59 thereof rests upon the heel of the boot. It should be understood in this connection that the front or shin portion I and the rear or calf portion l! of the tree are generally similar in cross section shaping to the cross section of the interior of the boot except that the wedge or intermediate section is caused to expand these sections to insure their conformity to the boot shape.

For spreading the shin and calf sections 7 and i? an intermediate wedge-like section 2i is provided. This intermediate section 25, usually referred to as a wedge or key section is, in the assembly process, fitted between the front or shin and rear or calf sections 1 and H, respectively, of the boot tree. Where the intermediate section 2| is to be used with front and rear sections having keyways extending longitudinally thereof and in order that the front section of the wedge may be located and positioned with respect to the front or shin portion which is usually provided with a keyway 23 extending throughout the complete length thereof. The key member is fitted into the keyway 25 of the front or shin section i.

The upper and lower portions of the rear face 2? of the intermediate section 26 are also in one form of the invention provided with keys 29 and 3i respectively, which fit into the keyways 33 and 35 formed on the forward surface of the rear or calf section H. In the space intermediate the most closely adjacent ends of the keys 29 and 3!, formed on the rear face 2? of the intermediate member 2i, there is preferably, although not necessarily, provided a recessed section 31, which, is shown especially by Fig. 2. The recessed section 31 is of a width substantially greater than that of the key portions 29 and 35. At one end of this recess 3'3, which, as is shown also by Fig. 2, extends for a substantial portion of the length of the rear surface 2| of the intermediate member 2i, there is fastened a bowed resilient member 39 whose outer surface 5!, when the boot tree is assembled, presses against the forward surface of the rear or calf member I? in the space intermediate the termination of the keyways 33 and 35.

The resilient member 39, which forms a part of the intermediate or wedge section 2|, may be fastened either to the upper or lower ends of the recess 3? by means of suitable fastenings 43 so that the unanchcred end 45 thereof is adapted to slide in the recess 3? in accordance with the degree to which it is compressed in assembly as determined by the amount of separation required for the front or shin section 1 and the rear or calf section I? to fit the boot size into which the complete tree is inserted. The resilient member 39 is preferably in the form of a bowed leaf spring which has substantial rigidity, although capable of being bent under pressure when the intermediate member 2! is forced between the front and rear sections '1 and I! to a position such as that shown, for example, by Figure 1, where the lower end of the intermediate member, which is provided with a key 3!, comes to rest also upon the inner sole of the boot. Thus, when the intermediate member 2i is forced downwardly between the front and rear sections of the boot adequate pressure to separate the front and rear sections and i! is pro- Vided by the tension of the spring member 39 in order that boots of large leg sizes may be maintained in shape, while for boots of smaller leg sizes, where the separation of the front and rear members i and H is less, the free end bowed. spring member may be compressed and forced toward the end of the recess 3'5 terminating at the beginning of the key portion 3! in order that the tree shall fit the small size of the desired boot.

It is for this reason principally that the boot tree herein disclosed is to be used for wide variations in boot sizes that the keys 29 and 3| and the corresponding keyways 33 and 35 have been provided, although it is to be understood that the shape of the boot may be maintained irrespective of whether or not the rear surface of the intermediate member 2| is completely separated from the rear or calf section as shown by Fig. l, for example, except for the contact obtained between the rear surface 4| of the spring member 39 bearing against the forward portion of the rear section II.

For the purpose of inserting the intermediate spreading member 2| between the front or shin section "l and the rear or calf section I! of the boot tree, the intermediate member is provided with a handle portion 4'! which is grasped in the assembly process in order that it may be forced downwardly between the front and rear members i and 2| to cause these members to spread apart under the action of the resilient member 39 until they conform closely to the boot shape and fit closely the shin and calf portions of the boot.

By the accompanying drawing and description it is to be noted that the foot portion is positioned with respect to the forward or shin section I by means of the key and keyway but it is to be understood that it is within the scope of the present invention to utilize the present invention with that form of boot tree foot portion where the foot member is a pivoted member suitably secured to the lowermost portion of the front or shin section 1. When using this form of boot ree or the form illustrated when the boot tree is being assembled and positioned within the boot to shape it properly the foot section is first positioned in the boot foot and caused to fit snugly within the boot. When the boot tree foot section is pivoted it is, of course, obvious that it may be turned so as to fit and then later, after the foot section is positioned within the boot the shin or front section I is rotated in a clockwise direction about its point of pivotal fastening (relative to the foot section) until it assumes the position shown by Fig. 1 in order that the desired relative position of the front section '6 and the foot section i may be obtained. However, when the foot section is separable from the front or shin section 1 (as shown) the foot member is positioned within the boot and after it is properly located the front section I is located and, if desired, fastened to the foot section by the key and keyway.

In accordance with the present disclosure it, of course, will be understood that the customary manner of fabricating the front and rear sections boot trees of the general character herein described have been heretofore, so far as applicant is aware, that of extending the key member 29, shown on the rear surface of the intermediate section 2!, so that it is continuous throughout the length of the intermediate section 2| and thus forms, together with the key member 3! a single key upon the rear surface of the intermediate member 2!. key member, which extends throughout the entire length of the intermediate section, when boot trees as now known in the art are used, then is arranged to fit within a corresponding keyway 33 which extends the complete length of the forward edge of the rear or calf section H. In view of these practices it, of course, will be appreciated that the present invention makes provision, whereby the intermediate section 2| (see particularly Fig. 2) may readily be used with the front and rear sections of boot trees as now used and thus convert, by reason of the spreading means provided by the resilient member 39, such boot trees into ones which will fit boots of different leg sizes. This is only possible because of the fact that the spring or resilient member 39, when so used, may be caused to bear upon the forward surface of the rear or calf section I! whether or not the keyway extends the complete length thereof because the resilient member 39 is of sufficient width to extend beyond the side walls of the keyway (see particularly Fig. 2) and thus adapt the boot tree sections as now used to a wider and more economical use.

While the intermediate section 2| has been shown in each of Figs. 1 through 4 as being used with front and rear sections of the now known boot trees it is, of course, apparent that such keyways may be omitted from the rear face of the front section 7 and the front face of the rear section I! while still attaining the aims and objects of the invention. This form of boot tree is shown by Fig. 5 wherein it will be seen that the key member 25 on the front face of the intermediate section may be omitted in order that the smooth face of the intermediate section 2| may bear upon the smooth rear face of the front section 1. Similarly, the keys 29 and 3| on the rear face of the intermediate section (see Fig. 2) may be omitted and then bear upon either a smooth front face of the rear section IT or the section I! with a keyway extending the entire length of the forward face thereof.

Further, it will be appreciated that while the invention has herein been described particularly in connection with riding boots, for which it is primarily intended and finds, perhaps, widest application, it may also be used and employed in connection with ordinary shoes or half boots. In such a use the-intermediate section 2! is, of course, shorter and the length of the resilient member correspondingly less because the compietely assembled tree then will comprise preferably, only the foot section and the rear section (of a length corresponding to the height of the shoe heel) between which the intermediate section will be forced. In this way the intermediate section, of a form similar to that shown, is adapted to force the foot and heel sections into the foot and heel portions of the shoe to maintain the desired shaping.

It is, of course, obvious from the foregoing description that many other modifications, uses and changes may readily be made within the i scope of the invention. Such changes might involve, for instance, the positioning of the resilient member on the forward face of the intermediate section or, further, the supporting and positioning of the resilient member on the forward surface of the calf section or the rear surface of the shin section, or in both these sections, of the boot tree sections with a smooth wedge-like intermediate section.

In addition, it will be appreciated that while the recess section 3'! serves as a useful means by which the anchored end of the resilient member 39 may be fastened so that its upper or outer surface is flush with the planar surface of the intermediate section and the free end of the spring guided by the side walls of the recess it is also within the scope of this invention to omit completely the recess and anchor the spring upon the face of the intermediate member. Such a construction provides a satisfactory and readily usable wedge or intermediate section and cheapens to some slight extent the cost of manufacture.

Further, while it has been customary to form boot trees and shoe trees of the character herein described of specially selected hard woods it, nevertheless, is contemplated, where desired, to form the complete article from metal or chosen plastics, such, for example, as that known and sold under the trade names Tenite or Bakelite. Therefore, I believe myself to be entitled to make and use any and all of such modifications provided they fall fairly within the spirit and scope of the hereinafter appended claims.

-H'aving now described the invention, what I claim is:-

l. A boot tree expander comprising a wedgelike element having substantially planar surfaces, and a resilient member extending longitudinally of one s rface of said element and having one end thereof anchored to the element and the opposite end thereof freely supported thereon to move longitudinally thereof.

2. A boot tree expander comprising a wedgelike element having a recess extending longitudinally of one surface thereof for a portion of the longitudinal length, and a resilient member extending longitudinally of one surface of said element and having one end thereof anchored to the element and the opposite end thereof supported within the recess.

3. A boot tree expander comprising a wedgelike element having a recess extending longitudinally of one surface thereof for a portion of the length thereof, and a resilient member positioned within the recess and anchored therein at one end.

4. A boot tree expander comprising a Wedgelike element having planar opposite faces and having a recess extending longitudinally thereof for a portion of the longitudinal length of at least one of the faces, and a resilient member extending longitudinally of one surface of said element and having one end thereof anchored to the element and the opposite end thereof supported within the recess.

5. A boot tree expander comprising a wedge- Iike element having planar opposite faces and having a recess extending longitudinally thereof for a portion of the longitudinal length of at least one of the faces, and a convexly curved resilient member extending longitudinally of one surface of said element and having one end thereof anchored to the element and the opposite end thereof supported within the recess.

6. A boot tree expander comprising a wedgelike element having planar opposite faces and having a recess extending longitudinally thereof for a portion of the longitudinal length of at least one of the faces, and a resilient member extending longitudinally of one surface of said element and having one end thereof anchored to the element and the opposite end thereof concavely curved relative to its length and supported within the recess.

2. An intermediate section for use with boot trees and the like comprising a rigid element having two opposite planar surfaces, said surfaces each extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the rigid element to form a wedge, and an elongated resilient member secured to one of said planar surfaces and extending longitudinally thereof for a substantial portion of the longitudinal extent of said surface, said resilient member being concave toward said surface and having its free end adapted to slide relative to said surface under compression.

8. An intermediate section for use with boot trees and the like comprising a rigid element having two opposite surfaces thereof of planar formation, said surfaces each extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the rigid element to form a wedge, at least one of said surfaces being recessed for a substantial portion of its length, and a bowed spring member supported within the recess and anchored at one end thereof and free at its opposite end.

9. An expander for boot trees and the like comprising an elongated element having its opposite faces extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof to provide a wedge-like formation for said element, at least one of said faces having therein an elongated recess portion extending for a substantial portion of the length thereof, a bowed resilient member positioned within the recess and extending outwardly beyond the recessed face for a portion of its length, and means for fastening one end of the resilient member at one termination of the recess.

10. A boot tree comprising a shin section and a calf section and an intermediate section for spacing said shin and calf sections, saidintermediate section being of wedge-like formation, and a resilient member secured to one face of the intermediate section for spacing the intermediate sec tion from the section immediately adjacent thereto.

11. A boot tree comprising a shin section and a calf section each having the surfaces thereof closest each other of planar formation, and a planar surface intermediate wedge-like element intermediate the shin and calf sections for spacing said sections apart, said intermediate section having a bowed and elongated resilient member secured at one end thereof to one of its planar surfaces for spacing the section immediately adjacent thereto from said intermediate section.

12. A boot tree comprising a front and rear section each having planar adjacent faces, a planar surfaced intermediate wedge-like element for spacing apart said front and rear sections, and an elongated bowed resilient member having one end thereof anchored to the planar surface of one of said members and the opposite end free to move relative to at least two of the planar surfaces for spacing the wedgelike member from one of the front and rear sections.

13. In a boot tree, a wedge-like element having substantially planar opposite faces, an elongated bowed resilient member anchored at one end thereof to one of said planar faces and having the opposite end thereof free to move longitudinally of the planar anchoring surface, said resilient member being bowed to extend for the major portion of its length beyond the plane of the wedge-like element, a front section adapted to be supported adjacent one planar surface of the wedge-like element and a rear section adapted to be supported adjacent the second planar surface of the wedge-like element, and a handle means secured to the intermediate section for forcing said wedge-like intermediate section between said front and rear section and for causing said resilient member to space one of the said front and rear sections apart from the intermediate section.

LOUIS DE WOOLF. 

